Sliding hopper discharge outlet closure actuating mechanism



G. B. DOREY March v26, 1963 SLIDING HOPPER DISCHARGE OUTLET CLOSUREACTUATING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 9, 1959 IN VEN TOR.BYeO/ge Zar@ M my G. B. DOREY 3,082,705

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summa HoPPER DISCHARGE OUTLET cLosuRE ACTUATING MECHANISM March 26, 19635 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 9, 1959 INVENTOR. George E 7o/ey BY G. B.DOREY 3,082,705 v SLIDING HOPPER DISCHARGE OUTLET CLOSURE ACTUATINGMECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 26, 1963 Filed April 9, 1959 rrn. I

1N VEN TOR. zi/George 5 areg, Mm? www United States Patent 3 082,705SLIDING HOPPER DISHARGE OUTLET CLOSURE ACTUATING MECHANISM George B.Dorey, Westmount, Quebec, Canada, assigner to Enterprise RailwayEquipment Company, Chicago,

Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Apr. 9, 1959, Ser. No. 805,266Claims. (Cl. 10S-282) The invention relates -to an improved hopperdischarge outlet structure of the type employing a sliding gate forclosing la discharge opening and is of particular importance inconnection with the discharge `opening of railway hopper cars and thelike.

The objects yof the invention, among others, are to provide improvedrotatable arm and associated linkage mechanism for moving a sliding gateincluding stop means for limiting rotation of the arm means; to providestop means for limiting movement of a sliding gate in relation tolinkage; to provide for connecting axially spaced operating hubs withconnecting means therebetween; to provide irnproved retaining andsealing means for a rotatable operating shaft; and to make provision forraising a sliding gate in open position above a slotted opening throughwhich said gate extends and thereby provide cleaning accessibility tothe interior of the hopper.

The invention further resides in certain details of construction-associated with the framing and in the manner in which the gate andmechanism are related to each other `and to the hopper structure. Y

For further comprehension of the invention, reference may be had to theaccompanying drawings wherein the improvement is shown as applied to arailway hopper car.

In said drawings,

FIGURE 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken through the lowerpart of a hopper car and showing approximately one half the width of thecar.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical side elevational view of the structure shown inFIGURE 1 as seen from left to right.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of FIGURE 2 lwith the floor sheets, slopingiloors and car structure eliminated to better illustrate the structure.

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on a line 4-4of FIGURE l and showing in con- `ventional dot and dash lines theposition `of the parts with the gate in open position.

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view vsimilar to FIGURE 4except that the gate is shown in elevated and fully withdrawn positionto provide `cleaning access to the interior of the hopper through theslotted end of the frame.

FIGURE 6 is a transverse sectional view through the outlet assembly asseen on a line 6 6 of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of theA gate and mechanism assembly as seen indetached relation.

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a fractional vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale astaken on a line 9--9 of FIGURE l3.

FIGURE l() is a vertical elevational end view of the lstructure shown inFIGURE 9 as viewed from left to right.

ln said drawings the car structure is indicated by a 3,882,705 PatentedMar. 26, 1963 cludes inner and `outer longitudinally extending sidemembers 20 and 21 which are united with transversely extending members22, 23 and 24, the members 23 and 24 being separated by an interveningspace to deiine a slot 25 through which the gate 1S extends. The sidemembers 20 and 21 are formed of sheet metal plates and have outwardlyhanged lower margins as indicated at 26 and 27 respectively and includevertically extending sections 28 and 29 between which the gate 1S slidesand is guided.

The upper part of wall 29 is anged outwardly at an incline as at 30 tounderlie the outer side wall 14 of the hopper and the upper part of wall23 overlies 4the inner side wall of the hopper. The transverselyextending end wall 22 is likewise flanged outwardly at its lower marginto present an outwardly extending ilange 31 and is also flangedoutwardly and upwardly to overlie the sloping floor 15.

The upper transversely extending wall 23 extends between the upperportion of members 28 and 30 and is welded thereto as indicated at 32and 33 and the lower tr-ansversely extending wall 24 is of generally Zshape including a web portion 34 and upper and lower anges indicated at35 and 36 respectively. The upper llange 35 underlies the gate and thelower flange 36 extends below the level of the lower flanges 26 and 27 asuicient distance to admit the entrance of a ange of removable chute aswill hereinafter be described.

There are provided ledges on three sides of the opening as indicated at37, 38 and .39 which in combination with upper flange 35 provide afour-sided continuous support for the gate in closed position. Theledges 37 and 38 are respectively carried by vertical portions of theside members 20 and 21 and the ledge 39 is carried by the transverselyextending wall 22. The side ledges 37 and 38 slope downwardly to biasthe gate towards closed position and said ledges extend well beyond theslot 25 and join with iianges 40 and 48a which extend laterally inwardlyfrom the side members 20 and 21 respectively. Internal ilanges 28 and 29on the vertical sections 28 Vand 29 provide supporting surfaces asextensions of the 'to and forming continuations of ledges 37 and 38 andthus the sliding gate slides from closed to open position alongcontinuously extending sloping runways. The end ledge 39 is beveled at39a to ease the gate to its closing position and compensate for anyunevenness or sagging of the leading edge of the said gate.

The upper transverse member 23 is reinforced on its under side by anangle shaped member 41 having one flange underlying the member 23 andthe other ange 42 lying normal thereto. The trailing end of the gate isflanged upwardly at 43 and secured thereto are lugs 44 which areapertured for receiving a pivot 45 for making connection with operatingmechanism, as will be described.

The operating mechanism includes -a rotatable shaft 46 which isjournaled in bearings 47 that are located at each sidebf the framing andpreferably consisting of short lengths of tubes welded `as at 48 to theside framing members and at 49* to an angle tie member Sil which extendstransversely between the side framing members and welded thereto at 51and 52. Arms 53 are non-rotatably mounted `on the shaft 46 and pivotallyconnecting said arms and the lugs 44 are pairs of links 54--54. Theouter end of each arm is apertured at 55 to receive pivots 56 for thepurpose of making connection with one end of the linkage formed by arms54. The linkage which consists of the pair of links 54 straddles thearms 53 and the lugs 44 and pivotally unites with -said respectivemembers by means of the pivots 45 and 56. The pivots 45 and 56preferably consist of headless pins held in place on the links bywelding as at 57 to provide an integrated link assembly at each arm.

The shaft 46 is preferably of non-circular shape and at its inner end isfitted with a ilanged circular bushing 53 held in -axial relation on theshaft by a headless pin 59 and at the opposite end there is provided anoperating head 6d having a hub portion 6i of circular shape forming abearing for the shaft. The arms 53 are provided with hublike portions62-62 each having a non-circular opening 62', FIG. 8, for receiving thecorrespondingly shaped shaft 46 to provide for non-rotatable mountingthereon. The hublike portions 62-62 are spaced axially from each otherby a hollow tubular spacer 63 and said spacer is united with the hubs ofthe arms by welding as at 64.

The pair of arms when integrally connected with the spacer 63 by meansof welding function as a unitary member and the assembly as composed bythe arms and spacer 63 is held in axial alignment on the shaft betweenthe bushing '58 and the hub portion 61 of the head 60.

The arm and linkage when in extended position as seen in FIGURES 2 and 4operate as struts between the shaft and gate to maintain the gate inclosed position and when in extended position the arms rest on the tiemember 50 with the axis 65 of pivot pin 56 lying slightly below andbeyond a straight line joining the axis 46a of the shaft 46` with theaxis 66 of pivot 45.

Each arm 53 is provided with a stop lug 67 adapted to engage with thetie member 50 to limit rotation of the shaft and thereby limit theextent of opening movement possible by rotation of the shaftA While theopening movement of the gate is thus limited when operable by means ofthe shaft rotation, provision is made for moving the gate beyond andabove the slot in order to provide access to the ledges for cleaningpurposes. The arrangement for this supplementary movement of the gate iseffected through a provision allowing for a limited upward and outwardmovement of the trailing edge of the gate and to this end the linkage 54is swingable about the pivot 56 to the position shown in FIGURE 5. Theextent of supplementary movement so provided is limited by stop means 68which engage with the linkage 54 and thereby limit the extent ofswinging movement of the linkage. Each stop means 68 preferably consistsof a plate member 69 welded at 70 to the related lugs 44 and having ends71 projecting beyond the sides of the lugs to seat against the edgesurfaces 72 of the linkage.

The operating head 60 lwhich is provided with a plurality of socketportions 73 for accommodating a removable bar (not shown), is alsoprovided with a bracket portion 74 having a wall 75 spaced appreciablyfrom the axis of rotation of the shaft and apertured at 76 toaccommodate therethrough a key-shaped portion 77 of a sealing pin 78.The sealing pin 78 includes at one end a handle portion 79 and at itsopposite end is formed with a section 80 of circular shape which isadapted to seat in an opening S1 formed in the head. The wall 75 isunited with the body of the operating head by means of upper and lowerWalls y82 and S3 which each include apertures 84 for receiving a sealingribbon. The keyshaped portion 77 of the sealing pin is also apertured at85 to align with the walls 32 and 83 when the sealing pin is in lockingposition thereby allowing for insertion of the sealing ribbon throughaperture S4 in either of the lwalls S2 or 83 and through the aperture S5of the sealing pin.

The sealing pin is mounted for axial movement in bracket plates 86-86and outward movement of the pin is limited by a stop plate S7.

Shields in the form of inclined shedding plates 88 and 89 extend alongthe longitudinal side edges of the gate and serve to maintain the gateagainst upward movement and also operate as sealing means to guardagainst leakage. The said plates 8S and 89 terminate short of the lendof the opening to provide escapement passages to allow flow of ladingand prevent packing of lading in the corners of the opening adjacent theleading end of the gate when the latter moves to closed position.

A groove 90 is provided along the inner longitudinal side edge of theframe for receiving one side of the frame of a removable extension chuteindicated conventionally at 91. The groove is preferably formed by twoplates 92 and 93 welded together and to the outstanding lower marginalflange of the inner frame member at 94. The plate 93 is disposed inalignment with the lower ange 36 of the `transverse member 24 and thisprovides for a groove opening on two adjacent sides of the frame as seenin FIGURE 5.

Assuming the gate is in closed position, the opening operation iseffected by first withdrawing the sealing bolt and thereafter impartinga partial rotation of the shaft in -a clockwise direction as viewed inFIGURE 2 until the stop lugs abut the tie member when the gate thenreaches the maximum `open position possible by rotation of the shaft.Should further opening of the gate be indicated, as sometimes necessaryfor cleaning purposes, the gate is moved bodily with the trailing endmoving upwardly with the linkage swinging about the pivotal axis withthe arms as seen in FGURE 5 and the underside of the gate 18 spaced, asby a block 95, above the surface of the flange 28. With the insertion ofa block 95 between the gate 18 and each flange 28 'and 29 the entiregate is raised above the level of the slot and it is then possible togain access to the runways for cleaning the same of any residue oflading resting thereon.

This accessibility for cleaning purposes is of special importance whentransferring a car from one type of service to another as it isnecessary that complete cleaning of the car be effected to avoidcontamination of the lading.

Even though the gate be completely withdrawn to its fully extendingportion including the supplementary travel provided by the swingingmovement of the linkage, the closing is effected in one continuousoperation by rotation of the shaft in an anticlockwise direction.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A discharge outlet assembly comprising, in combination:

(a) a foursided chute-like enclosure defining a discharge opening,

(b) a sliding gate for said openings,

(c) said gate projecting beyond one of the sides of said enclosure toprovide a portion projecting beyond said one side when said gate is inclosed position,

(d) runways on opposite sides of said enclosure extending toward eachother on which said gate is slidable,

(e) said runways extending outwardly of said one side of said enclosurefor supporting said gate in open position,

(f) a tie member extending transversely between the distal ends of saidrunways and secured thereto,

(g) a shaft rotatably mounted on said runways adjacent said distal endsthereof,

(h) arm means fixed -to and rotatable with said shaft,

(i) linkage pivotally connected with said projecting portion of saidgate and with said arm means,

(j) the pivot axis between said arms and said linkage passing throughthe path of movement of said gate during a portion of its movementbetween open and closed positions, and

(k) abutment means on and rotatable with said shaft and arranged andadapted to engage said tie member when said shaft is rotated in adirection to move said gate to open position to limit such movement.

2. The invention, as set forth in claim l, wherein (a) the arm meanscomprises a pair of arms extending from hubs non-rotatably mounted inspaced relation along the shaft,

(b) the linkage comprises a pair of links each individual to one of saidarms, and

(c) the abutment means comprises a pair of lugs each xed on andindividual to one of said hubs.

3. The invention, as set forth in claim 1, wherein stop means is mountedon and movable with the gate and is arranged and adapted to engage thelinkage adjacent its pivotal connection to said gate for limiting theswinging movement of said linkage with respect to said gate when it ismoved to full open position.

4. The invention, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the stop means on thegate is in spaced relation to the linkage when the shaft is rotated inthe gate opening direction until the abutment means engages the tiemember whereby said linkage is swingable about its pivotal connection tosaid gate and further opening movement thereof is permitted beyond thateifected by rotation of said shaft until said linkage engages said stopmeans.

5. A discharge outlet assembly comprising, in combination:

(a) a foursided chute-like enclosure defining a discharge opening,

(b) a sliding gate for said opening,

(c) said gate projecting beyond one of the sides of said enclosure toprovide a portion projecting beyond said one side when said gate is inclosed position,

(d) runways on opposite side of said enclosure extending toward eachother on which said gate is slidable,

(e) said runways extending outwardly of said one side of said enclosurefor supporting said gate in open position,

(f) a shaft rotatably mounted on said runways adjacent said distal endsthereof,

(g) a pair of arms extending from hubs non-rotatably mounted in spacedrelation along said shaft,

(lz) a tubular spacer telescoped with said shaft and interposed betweensaid hubs and secured thereto, and

(i) a pair of links pivotally connected at one end to said projectingportion of said gate Iand each individual to and pivotally connected toone of said arms,

(j) the pivot axis between said arms and said links passing through thepath of movement of said gate during a portion of its movement betweenopen and closed positions.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS609,816 Kramer Aug. 3-0, 1898 862,465 Quinn June 28, 1910 998,326Coleman July 18, 1911 1,019,875 Wright Mar. 12, 1912 1,813,928 Hosceit`Tuly 14, 1931 1,839,296 Campbell Jan. 5, 1932 1,956,310 Boyd Apr. 24,1934 2,079,392 Yost May 4, 1937 2,738,740 Dorey Mar. 20, 1956 2,745,563Dath May 15, 1956 2,749,851 Dorey June 12, 1956 2,751,859 Dath June 26,1956 2,810,356 Dath Oct. 22, 1957 2,859,707 Dorey Nov. 11, 19582,888,884 Fritz June 2, 1959 2,927,541 Lunde Mar. 8, 1960

1. A DISCHARGE OUTLET ASSEMBLY COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: (A) AFOURSIDED CHUTE-LIKE ENCLOSURE DEFINING A DISCHARGE OPENING, (B) ASLIDING GATE FOR SAID OPENINGS, (C) SAID GATE PROJECTING BEYOND ONE OFTHE SIDES OF SAID ENCLOSURE TO PROVIDE A PORTION PROJECTING BEYOND SAIDONE SIDE WHEN SAID GATE IS IN CLOSED POSITION, (D) RUNWAYS ON OPPOSITESIDES OF SAID ENCLOSURE EXTENDING TOWARD EACH OTHER ON WHICH SAID GATEIS SLIDABLE, (E) SAID RUNWAYS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF SAID ONE SIDE OFSAID ENCLOSURE FOR SUPPORTING SAID GATE IN OPEN POSITION, (F) A TIEMEMBER EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY BETWEEN THE DISTAL ENDS OF SAID RUNWAYSAND SECURED THERETO, (G) A SHAFT ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID RUNWAYSADJACENT SAID DISTAL ENDS THEREOF,